While most Asian cuisine in Berlin is focused on Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese fare with the occasional Korean restaurant thrown into the mix, Chinese food tends to get overlooked. Yet, our fair city is actually home to a good number of cheerful establishments serving cheap Chinese food. Think heaping plates of handmade dumplings and spicy soups that warm the soul. Here are the top eight to try.
Tian Fu offers Southern Chinese eats, with particular emphasis on the delicacies originating in the Sichuan province. The hot pot options rank high among the menu offerings, making this a fun, hands-on option for groups. Menu items come with varying arrays of fresh veggies, seafood, and meats, all to be cooked perfectly in the spicy simmering broth. There are three different locations, all in the city’s westernmost region of Wilmersdorf-Charlottenburg. The interiors are charming with its mixture of industrial and rustic finishing combined with traditional Chinese décor. At this point, Tian Fu is quite popular, so it’s a good idea to make a reservation beforehand.
Regensburger Straße 1 10777 Berlin, +03 091 539 833
Uhlandstraße 142 10719 Berlin, +03 086 130 15
Berliner Straße 15 10715 Berlin, +03 086 397 780
For anyone who still hasn’t had enough dumplings, Yumcha Heroes in Mitte certainly delivers. Its sweet and simple interior features pink windows, separating guests from the kitchen along with pretty porcelain chopstick holders on every table. This place offers dim sum style eats for affordable prices. The beef dim sum, for instance, comes with soup and is big enough to share while priced at only $8.36. Meanwhile, a set of four hearty homemade dumplings only costs around $3.34. Plus, the fillings inside of them change with the season, so it’s a good idea to return back throughout the year.
Weinbergsweg 8 10119 Berlin, +03 076 213 035
The quest to round up the best cheap dumpling spots in the city lives on. Wok Show in Prenzlauer Berg certainly fits the bill. This place serves heaping orders of dumplings known as jiaozi, prepared in different styles filled with broth along with a great multitude of different meat and vegetarian options. It is possible to order 40 of these bad boys for one $11.15! This place is often frequented by Chinese natives as well, earning it some well-deserved authenticity points. Not to mention, Wok Show has a stylish side, with its own small gallery space situated at the back.
Greifenhagener Str. 31, 10437 Berlin, +03 043 911 857
Shaniu’s House of Noodles in Wilmersdorf is a cozy little spot that serves yummy handmade noodles and voluptuous dumplings. The interior is simple and unpretentious, but it is the food that makes people feel all warm and fuzzy inside. In addition to the usual cucumber salad and veggie stir fry starters, Shaniu’s House of Noodles has plenty of other unique goodies. Robust and filling, the noodle dish with fermented bean sauce and minced pork, for example, is almost like a Chinese spaghetti Bolognese. They also have phenomenal soups with perfectly balanced broths and fresh herbs, ideal for one of Berlin’s many chilly days.
Pariser Str. 58, 10719 Berlin, +03 091 552 605